Student leadership in shaping tech use and policies

[Jenni Voorhees]

How are you tapping the opinions, experience, expertise, or frustrations of your students to help you shape your school's choices about technology hardware and software? Do you have a group of students you regularly consult? What are your discoveries?

[Laurie Bartels]

Hi Jenni,
There is an informal group of students who are self-selecting – they love computers and seek out lunch meetings and opportunities for discussion about technology and using it in school – and who provide feedback all the time. I further tap into their energy and interest by asking them to participate as co-facilitators during summer prof dev opportunities. They, in turn, keep me posted on their opinions via lunch and informal conversations, telling me about their blogs and podcasts, and emailing me with tips and information. I guess where I'm going with my answer is that the discussions, while including hardware and software, extend to integration issues, and that's where the students get to truly put their money where their mouths are, so to speak.
Cheers, Laurie

[Cindy Marston]

Hi Jenni,
At our school, we have tried various things over the past few years. This year, a student came to me and asked about starting a club - and TSSL (Technology Support by Student Leaders) was formed. We meet weekly at lunch, have a wiki to keep our ideas and projects organized (sort of), and I ask them frequently for their ideas and opinions. They LOVE being consulted, have lots of great ideas, (and even more opinions), but are very busy and sometimes the follow-up is lacking.
Looking forward to hearing from other schools.
Cindy

[Jamie Britto]

We have a tech club that has experienced a renewal recently. A number of program fall at least partially under that umbrella.

They run a student-help desk in the library
They create "how-tube" videos on common questions
They are paid on holidays to help maintain computers and equipment
They discuss their opinions about the filter, and other computer policies
They run a tech help business.

We've run with about 90% of their recommendations. Most recently they selected and installed a content management system to take the school newspaper online. I've found them to be thoughtful, resourceful, and technically proficient. Every now and again, if something doesn't go their way, they hold their breath for a while, but that's the nature of growing up. Overall working with them as been a great experience that has provided great enhancements to our program.

[Melissa Scott]

Hi Jamie,
Great ideas! I would love to start something with my MS students, but am wondering how and when we would meet. Is this something that you do after school, during elective time, or during lunch break? Do you have a training program for the students who would like to get involved? Would love to hear more details on how you implemented your tech group.
Thanks,
Melissa

[Jamie Britto]

We have a "clubs and committees" period scheduled ever week.

I meet with the leaders at key times during lunch or their study halls, mostly to get input on policies.

Most of the training happens informally during the students' study halls and especially during the summer or on holidays when we have a group in working.

[Susan Carter Morgan]

We, too, have a tech committee. We meet every few weeks, sometimes longer, to get feedback about our 1:1 program, solicit ideas for using the laptops in class, and to discuss other issues. The committee recently helped me put together a presentation on "Your online presence--developing a positive one," and they helped present it as well.
I love Jamie's ideas and plan to try some of them here.

[Cindy Marston]

Hi Susan,
I'd love to hear more about the presentation that you and your students put together. Sounds like a great topic!
Cindy

[Jenni Voorhees]

It would be great to add the presentation to the ones we've posted in the Evolving Internet Safety group. Many of us have posted our presentations there and it is becoming a great resource.

[Susan Carter Morgan]

My slides were pictures and word for effect only--we did the presentation in a discussion mode. So I'm not sure the slides themselves would help. I'll see if I can re-do them somehow to stand alone.
s.